I lost my crystal red shrimp a couple of days ago :( and now my cherrys aren't moving much.

Ammonia/Nitrites/Nitrates: 0

pH: 8. I have indian almond leaves coming to bring it down (I know the pH probably contributed to my crystal's death) but 8 is still within cherry comfort range, right?

Temp: 76. I was running the fan for the sick crystal but even then it couldn't have dropped below 65.

I moved my tank to a different corner and I did two 20% water changes in a row (Sat then Sun). The second time I only let the de-chlorinated water for about 30 mins before adding it--this is the only thing I can think of which could have hurt them.

I usually let de-chlorinated sit for an hour. Maybe not enough?

EDIT: it's a 2g tank--3 red cherrys and between 3-5 shrimplets

SeaHorse

03-19-2014 09:45 AM

Hmmmm... I want to start with the dechlorinator part first...What exactly do you use for Dechlorination? What product?
I use Prime and it is instant!!... On my 75 gallon I use a python hose from the tap and so I have direct flow (after setting the exact temperature to match my tank) fully chlorinated water into the tank. I add my cap full of Prime (good for 50 gallons) to the tank first, go set the temp at the tap and turn on the valve. So I don't think this is the issue but I want to clear this up first.

If the water sits for a half hour or an hour... do your temperatures match then?

anothernewbetta

03-19-2014 10:06 AM

I use Prime as well. I was told by my LFS that after I add Prime, to let the water sit for an hour and I've read online to wait up to two days because shrimp are so delicate that the dechlorinator might harm.

I don't know if the temperatures match. Now that I think about it, I've been borrowing my betta tank thermometer to check the shrimp tank temp when I need to. It WAS 86 around last week and I've been using a fan/light changes to bring it down (for the departed crystal) so there have been several temp fluctuations this past week...likely culprit?

ao

03-19-2014 11:05 AM

8 is definitely way too high for the crystal shrimps :(
As for the RCS, they're quite hardy, but even for these guys, it's harder to for then to make the transition if the water in your tanks are too different from the water params of where the came from. Knowing the GH, KH will also help narrow down why the shrimpies are slowing down...

anothernewbetta

03-19-2014 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ao
(Post 4141426)

8 is definitely way too high for the crystal shrimps :(

I know, so sad. :( The crystal (named "The Brave") was my very favorite. I don't know how the pH shot up from 7 to 8 in a few weeks. My tap/betta water is 7. I've had the tank for over 2 months now and all RCs were super active until this week so I'm assuming the GH, KH are ok...I don't have a test for those.

SeaHorse

03-19-2014 12:09 PM

Did you put anything new into the tank? Like a limestone rock? It's whitish and looks like there are holes drilled into it. (do a google image search if you are not sure what to look for.) Driftwood can lower PH slightly I think.

anothernewbetta

03-19-2014 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaHorse
(Post 4141810)

Did you put anything new into the tank? Like a limestone rock? It's whitish and looks like there are holes drilled into it. (do a google image search if you are not sure what to look for.) Driftwood can lower PH slightly I think.

Nothing new! No room for driftwood so going the IAL route. It should be here next week or so.

sandybottom

03-19-2014 02:29 PM

i have around 100 red cherry shrimp in a 4 gallon.i add the prime to the new water and dump it in right away.i have never had any problems. i think the likely culprit is stress brought on by temp and ph fluctuations.shrimp do not handle stress well at all.

thekoimaiden

03-19-2014 09:26 PM

I tried to keep red cherry shrimp around a pH of 8 and was not successful. I'm going to say that is your main culprit here. While it is in their comfort range, it's at the highest end. If they came from a significantly lower pH, the shock might just be too much on them. I had pretty large losses when I first introduced them into my aquarium. I've since brought the pH down and have had much better success with them.

jentralala

03-20-2014 10:05 PM

Mine slow down a lot when the temps get high in the tank. They don't seem to really like it. (talking around 79-80)

They may be about to molt? But it seems strange all of them would go still at once.